November 27, 1366. ] 



JOUUNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



413 



Spiral Cordokb of Peach Tbess (0. JET.).- -We should plant these, 

 which are 15 inches in diameter, 4 feet from each other in tho rows, and 

 these 4 feet apart. Hays's constant stove may be Been and purchased at 

 Mr. H. Maker's, 17, Harp Lane, Great Tower Street, LhikI-oi. 



Wall Pears for Winter ill- T. B.).— Against your S.W. wall yon may- 

 plant Hoiirri' Bosc, Beurre Diel, Colmsx, Duchesse d'AngoulSme, Gan- 



■ I r.i-i-'^iu-t, N-- 1'ln-. Mcr.ris, l*:i-s,> ».'n!iii;ii', ami Winter Nelis. 



Covent Garden Bouquets (Bouquet, Ireland), — : For balls and morning 

 parties they may be had at any price from 8s. o</. to 31s. They are sold in 

 tin: Centre Arcade, Covent Garden, by Messrs. Webber & Co., Mr. C. Buck, 

 Mrs. Bennott, and Mr. Dickson. 



TRITELEIA AURBA, ORANDIFLORA, AND LAXA {M. W. -flf.)- — Olir 001X8- 



spondent wishes to bo informed where bulbs of these can bo obtained. 



Zonale Pelargoniums [E. S.l. — A lengthy list and description of the 

 best Zonale Pelargoniums i-- in this Journal, page 119, of No. 281. STonr 

 question is too indefinite for us to make the selection, but you can choose 

 from the names there given. They will not disappoint yon. Th< 

 many others perhaps as good, but "none better can bo selected from tho 

 hundreds now in cultivation. 



Seedling oapillus- Veneris (C. S.).— It is a very fine specimen, but 

 we do not see that it differs fr<im the normal form, except in the leaflets 

 being rather more crowded and larger than usual. 



Pelarooniums {Nil De*perandum). — Wo cannot insert your commen- 

 dations unless you furnish your name and address for our private 

 satisfaction. 



Prices in France (./. W. B.).— It is quite trim that the prices of some 

 plants are lower in France than in England ; but when the differences of 

 climate, of rent, and of labour are considered, there is no avoidable dif- 

 ference in the charges. 



Examination [a. E. IT'.).— If you mean the examination at the Society 

 of Arts, you had better write to the Secretary of the Society, Adclphi, 

 London. 



Exchanges (H. P., Peterborough).— It has been tried and signally 

 failed. Few of the parties were satisfied, great trouble was occasioned, 

 and many absolute frauds occurred. 



Forcing Sea-kale (A Greenhorn).— You need not despair of having a 

 few dishes of Sea-kale fit to cut by Christmas, and all the finer if you 

 reduce the temperature to 5(^or55°, by taking off the fermenting ma- 

 terials nearly down to the level of the Sea-kale pots ; but do not disturb 

 the warm material which is closely packed round them. Should sharp 

 frost set in see that the top covering is sufficient to keep the frost out. 

 Mr. Weaver, gardener to the Warden of Winchester College, covers up 

 with grass and leaves mixed, or with fresh manure from the stable that 

 has not been previously turned over to sweeten. With either he covers 

 the pots just enough to give a heat of from GO to 65° to begin with, thus 

 warming the soil round the plants to start them. This heat naturally 

 exhausts itself in the course of a few weeks, and the cooling is hastened 

 by the weather. Ke always inserts a pointed stick in the thickest part of 

 the bed in order to ascertain the amount of heat. The growing tempera- 

 ture should be from 5(T to 55-. This will always insure good stocky Sea- 

 kale. Mr. Weaver says that the plan recommended by Mr. Fish {see 

 page 371), is excellent. Mr. Weaver filled a box, 2 feet 9 inches deep, 

 18 inches wide, and 3$ feet long, with strong one-year-old plants to 

 within 9 inches of the top, put on the lid, placed two small blocks of 

 wood for the box to stand upon, so a3 not to touch the ground, and then 

 packed the box all round with a quantity of grass and leaves, so as com- 

 pletely to bury it. This was done on the 8th of November, and on the 

 21st he found that the crowns had made about 1 inch of growth in the 

 fortnight — an easy method of obtaining a dish of Sea-kale. 



Sowing Cistus Seed— Moving Pampas Grass (F. 2V.).— If by the 

 " Alpine Rose " you mean the Rock Rose or Cistus, the seed should be 

 sown in a pan three-parts rilled with crocks, filled up to the rim with 

 sandy peat and loam, freely intermixed with pieces of limestone broken 

 small. Scatter the seeds evenly over the surface, after making it level, 

 and cover lightly with fine soil. Give a gentle watering, and place in a 

 frame with the least possible heat, keeping close and moist until the 

 plants appear ; then admit air gradually, and expose fully, keeping the 

 soil moist, but avoid making it wet and sour. When sufficiently large to 

 handle prick off in a warm sheltered situation out of doors, affording a 

 slight shade from bright sun until established. Sow the seed early in 

 April. The Pampas Grass may safely be moved between the present time 

 and May. We prefer March and October, but the plant can be lifted 

 with such a good ball that it can be removed safely at any time, except 

 when in active growth. 



Raspberries in Wet Ground (Vicar':, — Raspberries do not succeed 

 in ground such as yours, and the death of the canes we should attribute to 

 the cold, wet condition of the soil. You will do well to defer planting 

 the Strawberries until March, and if you lift the plants with a nice ball 

 they will not suffer from being planted then. 



Leaf Mould Infested with Grubs ( Troublesome). — You may drive 

 away the grubs by turning over the mould twice or thrice, and sprinkling 

 over it fresh dry soot at each turning, and as the work proceeds. 



Camellias and Azaleas Sickly (Idem).— Your Camellias and Azaleas 

 have been ruined, as many are, by their having been injudiciously placed 

 out of doors in summer. We have no doubt as to the roots being all but 

 dead from the exposure of the pots to the drying influences of the atmo- 

 sphere. Under careful treatment the plants may recover, but do not put 

 them out of doors at all, but keep the house cool by affording plenty of 

 ventilation. 



Rhododendrons and Gladiolus among*Shrubs {Idem).— The Rhodo- 

 dendrons and Gladiolus will do in the end of a bed of shrubs if the 

 roots and foliage of the latter do not interfere with them. The Rhodo- 

 dendrons should be so far apart as to allow of the Gladioli being grown 

 between them. 



Pruning Apricot, Peach, Nectarine, and Plum Trees (M. L.). — 

 Now is the time to prune Plum trees. The beginning of February is a 

 good time for Apricot trees, and from the middle of February to the be- 

 ginning of March is a good season for general pruning. All pruning 

 should be done during mild weather, and no winter pruning should be 

 practised except when growth is desired, or the head requires re- 

 arranging. 



Heating by Gas {ir. n. Shmbsole). - If yon will send four postago 

 stamps to our office with your address, and order '269, New Series, to bo 

 sent to you, yon will find in it drawings and descriptions of various modes 

 of hunting by gas. Your plan wo do not think would answer unless an 

 extravagant consumption of gas woro incurred. 



Vinks (France*),— Tour best plan would be not to move the Vines if 

 you erect the new on the sito of old conservatory, but to protect their 

 stems by B covering of haybauds wrapped round them ; the beads should 

 be protected with mats, so far as they are likely to be Injured by bricks 

 and mortar falling on them: but if you propose making a new border, or 



moving the house, then you may take the Vines up before they commence 

 growth, plant them against a south wall, and move them to the UflW 

 bouse in ' >ctober. If the Vines aro at all old it would be preferable to 

 li.r.r voung ones, which will produco in the second year if liberally 

 treated during tbe iirst season. Tho old Vines cannot bo expected to do 

 much, if anything, during tho first year, as it will take them some time 

 to recover the two removals. 



Destroying TEBIPS (B. II.).— The leaves have every appearance of 

 having been infested with thrips. Your remedy will be to fill the house 

 with tobacco smoko, choosing a calm evening for tho operation. Take 

 caro that the house shall be dry when shut up, and tbe foliage as well. 

 Fill tho house so full of smoko that not a plant shall be seen through 

 tbe glass. Repeat this the second night, and whenever tho pest presents 

 Itself fumigate immediately. To prevent the attacks of thrips maintain 

 a moist healthy atmosphere by affording copious syringings. The 

 Fuchsia leaves swarm with red spider. The house baa probably been 

 kept too dry and ill-ventilated. The season of growth in Fuchsias being 

 now over, little can be done in the way of syringing the phmts, otherwise 

 thnl. is tho best antidote for red spider. Make a solution of soft soap at 

 the rate of 2 ozs. to a gallon of water, and, laying tho pots on their sides, 

 syringe the plants with the (solution, directing it against the under side 

 of the leaves, and turning the plants over so as to thoroughly wet every 

 leaf and stem. It would be well if the solution were heated to a tempera- 

 ture of 140°. The operation should be performed outside the house. 



Areca Baueri, Drac.ena ferrea, Seaforthia elegans, and Cordy- 

 line rubra Culture (F. W.).—The culture of these is tho same as that 

 of fine-foliaged plants generally— viz., a brisk heat and abundance of 

 moisture, both in the atmosphere and at the root, during summer, or 

 when the plants are in active growth, with a moderate amount of air; 

 and in winter a moderately dry atmosphere, and no more water at tho 

 root than is sufficient to maintain them in a healthy state. The first, 

 second, and fourth require the temperature of 65° at night, and from 

 75° to 90° by day in summer, and one of from 55°to 6a in winter ; and the 

 third a temperature of between 55 ^ and 75 in summer, with a rise from 

 sun heat, and one of between 40 and 45° in winter. A compost of equal 

 parts of turfy loam, peat, and leaf mould, with a free admixture of silver 

 sand, suits them well ; it should be chopped with a spade, but not sifted, 

 ' and good drainage must he provided. 



Pears and Apples for Bushes and Pyramids ( West of Yorkshire).— 

 The Pears we recommend are the following, on the Quince : Louise 

 1 Bonne of Jersey, Beurre Superfin, Beurre d'Amanlis, Beurre Diel, 

 Alexandre Lambre, Williams's Bon Chretien, Colmar d'Ete, Fondante 

 d'Automne, Gansel's Late Bergamot, Beurre Hamecker, Doyenne du 

 Cornice, and Beurre Nautais. Apples on Paradise stock : Red Astrachan, 

 Rihston Pippin, Stunner Pippin, King of the Pippins, Scarlet Nonpareil, 

 and Court of Wick. Plume: Kirke's, Jefferson, Early Prolific, Guthrie's 

 Late Green, Green Gage, and Yellow Magnum Bonum. Your soil being 

 shallow you may plant the trees on a slightly raised mound, placing a 

 barrowful of fresh soil to each tree, planting the tree thereon, and cover- 

 ing the roots with fresh soil. Rivcrs's "Miniature Fruit Garden" will 

 suit you. 



Keeping Grapes when Cut (Alfred).— Let them be cut with 6 inches 

 or more of the wood attached to each hunch, dip tho cut ends of the wood 

 in hot sealing-wax, and hang them up in a cool, dry, airy room. We 

 have also kept them well by sticking the end of each shoot attached to 

 the bunch in a root of Mangold Wurtzel; but a cool, airy situation, and * 

 the Grapes in a good condition at the time of cutting, are the most im- 

 portant points. 



Destroying Thrips on Vines and Plants (Idem).— It is easy to 

 clean the Vines when thev are pruned. They may then be painted with 

 a rather strong solution of Gishurst compound, tobacco water, sulphur, 

 and clay. Plants may also be partially cleaned by dipping them over- 

 head in an ordinary mixture of Gishurst, and giving three or four suc- 

 cessive smokings. Azaleas are very subject to this pest, and the plan 

 last mentioned is that which we adopt to free them from it before they 

 aro housed in the autumn. 



White Scale on Heaths and Boronias [H. B., a Subscriber),— If very 

 much affected throw the plants away, clean the house well, and procure 

 others. Much good may, however, be done by touching the parts affected 

 with a camePs-hair pencil or feather dipped in sweet oil. This is the 

 best remedy which we have tried, it is easy of application, and does no 

 harm, nor is it offensive or unsightly like some remedies. 



Rhododendron Nuttallii Leggy (E. .S.).— We do not advise the 

 cutting or heading-back of the plant. Its legginess might have been pre- 

 vented when the plant was a foot or 18 inches high, by the simple 

 process of taking out its point, which would have caused the side eyes 

 to have broken more or less. If the shoots from these had had their 

 points rubbed off after a couple of years' growth, they would have pro- 

 duced a large branching head. As it is, we would bend down the head so 

 as to bring it nearly to a level with tho rim of the pot, and tie it thero 

 with bast matting, taking care not to break it. This may check the sap 

 and cause some of the dormant eyes to break, and if shoots are pro- 

 duced near the base, the head may be cut back to that point. \our treat- 

 ment, wo presume, consists in merely affording the plant the protection of 

 a cool house in winter, and keeping it in the open air in summer. This 

 is correct providing the change from the house to the open air is not too 

 sudden, or effected without well hardening-off the plant, and the removal 

 should take place either prior to or after the growth. During summer 

 the pot should be plunged to prevent excessive evaporation from the aides, 

 and consequent injury to the roots, which are delicate and situated near 

 the sides. The plants are now losing their leaves from the atmosphere of 

 the house being drier than the external air. It is usual for plants that 

 have been placed out of doors in summer to lose their leaves when taken 

 in-doors. 



